During the post-Masters interview, Bryson DeChambeau was asked about Rory McIlroy’s mental state of mind. DeChambeau and McIlroy were paired together for the final round of the Masters as they were 1 and 2 in the leaderboard at the end of Day 3. So it was understandable that someone asked the 2024 US Open winner this question, and DeChambeau gave a very open answer, stating that the Northern Irish golfer “didn’t talk to me once all day.”
That answer was criticized by Dan Rapaport and Alan Shipnuck on their podcast Dan on Golf. “I thought that was really weak of Bryson to bring that up. This is the greatest moment of Rory’s golfing life and Bryson made it all about him and his little tender feelings. Like who cares, if he talked to you.” Shipnuck stated.
Host Andy Johnson discussed this on the Fried Egg Podcast and said, “Bryson was shocked that [McIlroy] didn’t talk to him.” Trevor Immelman, who won the 2008 Masters at Augusta, shared even more candid thoughts about Bryson’s reaction. “I am shocked that Bryson is shocked.” And he added some much needed context as well. Bryson DeChambeau has been playing at the highest level of golf for years now. He should be used to the focused nature of several top golfers that play around him. And in Rory McIlroy’s case, it is especially brutal.
The 5-time Major winner had never won at Augusta, and was just that title away from completing the historic Career Grand Slam. So, there was a lot at stake on Masters Sunday. Thus, the extreme focus and competitiveness on display make sense. And that is something, people expect DeChambeau, who himself is a two-time Major winner, to know.
“Bryson knows this better than anybody. This guy is a two-time US Open champion. The focus and the intensity and the anxiety and the nervousness and the manicness of Sunday at a major championship. There’s not much chatter out there, man,” he explained.
Rory didn’t talk to Bryson during the final round of the Masters, something that didn’t surprise @TrevorImmelman
He joined the pod to discuss all things 2025 Masters and Rory’s win. pic.twitter.com/tyUYRhr2ec
— Andy Johnson (@AndyTFE) April 15, 2025
And McIlroy’s lack of talk is not the only instance of this happening on the golf course. Both Andy Johnson and Trevor Immelman were quick to give examples of similar instances from the previous Masters.
Silent playing partners not uncommon
Andy Johnson jogged the memories with an incident from the 2019 Masters which involved Tiger Woods, who won his last Major title that year. “Just in 2019 Tony Finau came off the golf course and was like Tiger didn’t talk to me all day.” Johnson recalled.
Finau had recalled the incident when he was a guest on the Subpar podcast of GOLF.com. “We finally get to the 7th hole, and Tiger and I were walking next to each other off the tee, and it was kind of awkward,” Finau said, “I was like, How come he’s not talking to me? Maybe I should say something to him. So I’m like, ‘Hey Tiger, how are the kids?’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, they are doing fine.’” Finau added.
However, the duo shared those words for the last time before Tiger Woods won his fifth green jacket. Seems like Bryson DeChambeau is not the only one facing the silent treatment on the final round of Masters. The focus and dedication that comes with success is also not lost on Trevor Immelman. He recalls his last day at the 2008 Masters. “I really like Brandt Snedeker. I did not say one word to him, until he walked up to me as we were approaching the 18th green on Sunday and said well done,” Immelman recalled the incident.
What do you think of DeChambeau’s answer about Rory McIlroy? Do you think it warrants criticism?
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